Tomato-Soy Drink: A Potential Solution for Chronic Inflammation in Obese Adults

Recent findings from Ohio State University indicate that tomato juice, rich in lycopene and soy isoflavones, significantly lowers proteins linked to chronic inflammation, opening avenues for effective food-based treatments.

“The goal is to explore whether we can utilize food-based interventions to modulate inflammation,” states Jessica Cooperstone, Ph.D., from Ohio State University.

“Moreover, we aim to test this rigorously to confirm the anti-inflammatory effects rather than simply making claims,” she added.

Lycopene, a carotenoid responsible for the red hue in tomatoes, along with soy isoflavones—flavonoids that mimic estrogen—are both phytochemicals aiding plant growth.

Several years ago, researchers created a beverage high in lycopene from tomatoes, infused with soy isoflavone extract, inspired by studies linking diets rich in these foods with a lowered risk of prostate cancer.

Ongoing research has shown that increased intake of this beverage correlates with reduced prostate-specific antigen levels in some prostate cancer patients, while other studies suggest that consuming tomatoes and soy may influence inflammatory and metabolic pathways associated with obesity and various chronic ailments.

“The findings indicate enough evidence that compounds in tomato and soy can modulate inflammation, prompting us to conduct human trials,” Dr. Cooperstone explained.

In a recent study, 12 healthy obese adults consumed two 6-ounce (177 ml) cans of tomato-soy juice daily for four weeks.

Following a washout period, participants drank a low-carotenoid control tomato juice for an additional four weeks.

“Our hypothesis is that lycopene in tomatoes and isoflavones in soybeans are the drivers of these effects, justifying the use of control other than plain water,” Cooperstone noted.

The research team collected blood samples before and after the study, analyzing them for cytokines (pro-inflammatory proteins produced by the immune system).

Significant reductions were observed in three cytokines: interleukin (IL)-5, IL-12p70, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), with a notable trend toward reduced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), which did not reach statistical significance.

They also assessed urine samples before and after each trial phase for changes in metabolites, which represent biochemical reactions necessary for energy production and body functions.

Results indicated that both tomato-soy juice and the control tomato juice triggered common alterations in metabolite profiles, suggesting that tomato-driven effects can occur even without lycopene.

Particularly distinct changes in soy isoflavone metabolites were noted with the consumption of tomato and soybean juices.

While more research is essential, these findings bolster the notion that food-based interventions can influence human biology.

“This likely stems from the fact that our intervention contains more than just these two compounds,” Dr. Cooperstone mentioned.

“Ultimately, our aim is to deepen our understanding of how diet impacts health.”

“To ensure validity, clinical trial testing is necessary. That’s precisely what we are conducting here.”

Animal model studies have also indicated that soy-tomato juice may mitigate inflammation and severity in chronic pancreatitis, aligning with projections from current clinical trials suggesting improved outcomes for pancreatitis patients.

“Patient care for pancreatitis primarily focuses on alleviating pain and gastrointestinal symptoms,” Dr. Cooperstone stated.

“Our hypothesis posits that tomato and soybean juice could serve as an intervention to diminish inflammation and enhance life quality for patients.”

Findings of this study are published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.

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Maria J. Chorolla et al. 2026. Tomato-soy juice reduces inflammation and modulates urinary metabolome in obese adults. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research 70 (5): e70420; doi: 10.1002/mnfr.70420